Our Article is published this month

Our paper on reducing post operative pain in breast augmentation comes out in this months Aesthetic Surgery Journal. We have been using the method we describe for the last 3 years and have hundreds of patients that have benefited from it. Hopefully other surgeons can use it to help their patients too. This technique allows the post operative patient to have a markedly more comfortable time in the recovery room and for several hours at home. By placing the same type of solution that we use to reduce pain and bruising in liposuction in breast augmentation patients we improve the patients’ total experience by lessening their pain and discomfort.

 

Be sure to visit the video section on our page. We have several videos that will be posted over the next month. We will have videos on breast augmentation, facial rejuvenation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tucks as well as our medical background and training. We will also have patient testimonial videos which give you a real feeling for what it is like to be a patient. Stay tuned for more information.

 

All the best,

 

Dr. Jabs

LIPO IN THE SUMMER?…WHY NOT!

For those of you who have had liposuction consultations with us already or those who are considering coming in for one, and really want to have the surgery now, but are concerned about the heat of the summer, you may want to reconsider. Yes, you have to wear a compression garment post surgery (Rainey Wear), but not nearly as long as was recommended a few years ago. Of course it will depend on the areas of liposuction and can vary from patient to patient, but for the most part Dr. Richards and Dr. Jabs have you in and out of your compression garment (Contemporary Designs) in only two weeks!! It does not show under your clothes and let’s face it, most of us are in air conditioned cars, offices and homes 99% of the time anyway, so the excuse that it is too hot to have liposuction in the summer months is out the window. If you want to get rid of those unwanted areas of fat and look your best in the new fall fashions (Barneys New York), not to mention all the holiday parties and family gatherings, then now is the time to schedule your surgery. And the best part…you will have almost a whole year to fully recover and start a healthy routine to get in the best shape of your life before next bathing suit season! So no more procrastinating—grab your phone and dial our office today to schedule. As always, we look forward to hearing from you!

M.C.

Practice Mgr

Plastic Surgery Statistics

The National Clearinghouse of Plastic Surgery Statistics released the 2007 statistics for plastic surgery procedures performed in the United States last month. The total number of cosmetic procedures was 12 million (including minimally invasive procedures) for  2007. This is a 7 percent increase over the previous year. The total number of surgical procedures remained essentially unchanged at 1.8 million.

The numbers show that the less invasive procedures are clearly more popular than surgical intervention. There were nearly 10 million minimally invasive procedures performed in 2007, an increase of 9 percent.

The top five minimally-invasive procedures were Botox injection (4.6 million), Soft tissue fillers (1.05 million), Chemical peel (1.02 million), Laser hair removal (.9 million) and micro-dermabrasion (.9 million).

The top five surgical procedures were: Breast augmentation (348,000) up 6 percent, Liposuction (302,000) unchanged, Rhinoplasty (nose surgery, 285,000) down 7 percent, Blepharoplasty (eyelid rejuvenation, 241,000) up 3 percent, and Abdominoplsty (tummy-tuck, 148,000) up 1 percent.

Cosmetic surgery rose for Hispanics, African-Americans and Asian-Americans by approximately 8 % for each group.

Facelifts performed on patients 40 and older (116,200) showed the highest percentage increase from previous years, up 14 percent.

All of this underscores the trend to less invasive procedures performed on more of the population until they reach the age or an appearance that they no longer see the results they desire at which point people are turning to surgery.

We are here to serve your desires for the latest in cosmetic procedures.

All the best,

Doctor Jabs

BREAST AUGMENTATION PAIN RELIEF

The breast augmentation post-op pain relief research work done by Dr. Jabs and Dr. Richards has just been accepted for publication in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal. This is our national plastic surgery aesthetic publication that will be read by thousands of plastic surgeons in the United States and abroad and is the official journal of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Our research helped us to develop a technique that provides post-op pain relief with breast augmentation surgery not previously achievable. It involves a meticulous implant pocket dissection method avoiding the perichondrial nerves, injection of tumescent fluid (normally used for liposuction pain relief) into the surrounding breast tissue, and direct injection of a long acting anesthetic into the pectoralis muscle. Patients with this approach had significantly less pain scores after surgery.

My last three breast augmentation patients had an initial recovery room pain score of 0 out of 10! At Cosmetic Surgery Associates we take pride in providing the highest quality of safety and comfort to our patients.

Dr. Richards

Continuing Education

Over the last several months I have recommited myself to personalized patient care and to improving my skills. One of my favorite operations, and truly one of the most difficult plastic surgery procedures, is rhinoplasty (surgery of the nose). I have been practicing for 20 years and although certainly experienced, I feel there is always more to learn. It is the endless advancement of understanding and technique that makes our specialty so interesting.

I had the good fortune to spend a few days last week with one of the giants in the field of rhinoplasty, Dr. Ron Gruber of Oakland California. He is remarkable for his anatomical approach to nasal surgery, his simple solutions to difficult problems (the kind where you think “that is so simple why didin’t I think of that?”) and for his ability to relate this information in a clear and concise manner in both written and oral presentations. My approach to rhinoplasty has been a synthesis of many techniques over the years, using the best of each approach. When I found Dr. Gruber’s writings I was amazed how much sense he made and how well his approach to nasal problems worked. I have been an enthusiastic adherent to his surgical philosophy ever since. I learned a few new “tricks” last week that will benefit my patients and make the results I obtain even more predictable. These techniques preserve the tissue in the nose leading to a more functional, natural appearing result. I look forward to applying these techniques to my next cases.

All the best,

Dr. Jabs

PATIENT TESTIMONIAL VIDEOS COMING SOON…

Lights, camera….ACTION! It was like a Hollywood movie set in our Bethesda office this past Monday when our internet masterminds arrived from the west coast with a camera crew and all the equipment needed for a day of video production. In addition to new videos of your favorite plastic surgeons (don’t get too excited—they are much better surgeons than they are actors thank goodness) we were honored to have two of our patients come in to give testimonials about their surgical experience with Dr. Richards, Dr. Jabs and our staff. We certainly appreciated their time and candor, and know they are going to look fabulous in their film debuts! Please stay tuned to the website as the new videos will be playing soon….

M. Carr

Reston Office Now Open!

Good news for our Virginia patients who live just a little farther out…we have opened a satellite office in Reston! The address is 1860 Town Center Drive, Suite 340, and it is in the Reston Hospital Center campus, just a short walk across the street from the hospital itself. We are there on Monday afternoons, scheduling consultation appointments beginning at noon, with the exception of Mondays when Dr. Richards and Dr. Jabs are in surgery. If you are not familiar with the location of Reston Hospital Center, it is just about a mile off of exit 11 (off the Dulles toll road) which is VA-7100N/Fairfax County Parkway/John F (Jack) Herrity Parkway exit. A right turn onto New Dominion Parkway, a left turn onto Town Center Drive and you end at 1860. Parking is surface or garage and there is no charge. To make an appointment please call 703-506-0683. Remember, warmer weather is on its way, the time to look and feel your best as you shed your coats and sweaters for shorts and swim suits. Take a look at the exceptional gallery of pre and postop photos on our website—talk about inspiration!! We look forward to hearing from you soon.

M. Carr

Practice Manager

Lunch and Learn at the Sulgrave Club

I was recently invited by the Sulgrave Club, an historic women’s club in the heart of Washington, DC, www.sulgrave.org, to give a lecture on facial rejuvenation. The club is celebrating it’s 75th year of existence. It was graciously organized by Carter Brown and was given during a beautiful lunch prepared by the Club’s chef. The lecture was given in one of the main dining rooms in the old mansion.

The lecture included a powerpoint presentation with pre and post operative photos of patients. The ladies especially liked the transformations they saw in the photos. Topics included, topical skin care, peels, lasers, botox, “fillers” (Restylane and Juvaderm), browlifts, eyelid surgery, mid-face lifts, nasal surgery, and mini- (S) lifts. The question and answer session that followed was intelligent and lively.

As a surgeon, I was honored to have been asked to speak in a venue that hosts luminaries from around the world. In addition, the ladies were a joy.

All the Best,

Dr. Jabs

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

On behalf of our doctors and staff, I want to take a moment to thank our patients for all their referrals of family and friends. Your confidence in our practice means everything to us—it is the greatest compliment you can give and is appreciated beyond words.

For those of you who have not yet referred anyone, but know people who are interested, please let me know if you need some of your doctor’s cards, or would like me to speak to your family member or friend by phone prior to their scheduling an appointment. I would be happy to discuss their procedure of interest and allay any fears or anxiety they may have about taking the first step and consulting with Dr. Richards or Dr. Jabs. We want to make their experience with us as pleasurable as yours.

Thank you so much again, and we look forward to more patients just like you!

M.C.
Practice Manager

Plastic Sugery Ain’t What It Used To Be

Where to begin? So many exciting things are happening in plastic suregery right now.

Everything that I now do as a plastic surgeon has changed since my residency in New York 20 years ago. I’ll give you a few examples and then over the next few blog entries go in to more detail.

Let’s start at the top, so to speak.

Browlifts:Before, a big incision across the top of the scalp.Now, limited incisions and the use of the endoscope allow us to preserve sensation and achieve excellent results.

Eyelids: Before, we took OUT most of the fat in the upper and lower lids. Now, we preserve fat and tighten and reposition the tissue that holds the lower lid to the globe.

Facelifts. We are doing less and achieving a look that is more. The S-lift, or mini-lift, is suitable for most people, addresses the neck and loose skin of the cheeks and allows you to be back at work faster with less pain.

LiposuctionBefore. Big cannulas and lots of blood in the extacted fat. Now. Small cannulas and with the use of tumescent fluid we can take more safely with a lot less bleeding, plus we get the added benefit of local anesthesia.

Breast augmentationBefore. Silicone gel implants that had a shell that allowed the silicone to come in to contact with the breast tissue leading to scarring or capsules. Now. New Memory Gel Silicone implants have a thicker shell and the silicone is a gummy bear consistency. Place under the muscle they are providing fantastic results. Saline implants are still the standard bearer and offer an alternative to those that want the smallest possible incision with the least chance of capsule formation.

Breast Reduction Before. More incisions with less “sculpting” of the breast tissue Now. No incisions along the undersurface of the breast, and therefore less scars, and shaping of the breast tissue to allow a better chance of long term shapliness.

Next time: The results of our recent study on decreasing pain after breast augmentation.

All the Best,

Dr. Jabs